The Military Manual (1993) of the Netherlands provides that the white flag “indicates that the party who displays the flag wants to negotiate … In addition, the white flag is also accepted as a usual indication of surrender.”

The Military Handbook (1995) of the Netherlands states: “Displaying the white flag means that one wants to negotiate with the adverse party (for example about a cease-fire) or that one wants to surrender.”

The white flag indicates that the party flying the flag wishes to parley. This party must cease firing. The bearer of the white flag, and those accompanying this person, have a right to physical inviolability. The receiving party need not cease fire over the whole sector. The white flag is also accepted as the customary indication of a wish to surrender.

The Military Manual (1993) of the Netherlands defines a parlementaire as “a person who has been authorized by one of the belligerents to enter into negotiations with the other party and who advances bearing a white flag”.

The Military Manual (2005) of the Netherlands states: “A person who is authorized by one of the belligerents to parley with the other party, and who presents himself under a white flag, is called a ‘parlementaire’.”